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Author: News Desk

  • PTI claims Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize; but here’s the twist…

    PTI claims Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize; but here’s the twist…

    The official X (formerly Twitter) account of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) created waves on the internet on Friday night when it shared a video of members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA) – a group affiliated with the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum – announcing the nomination of incarcerated former Premier Imran Khan for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts for human rights and democracy in Pakistan.

    The caption of the post read, “Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, as announced by members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA) affiliated with the Norwegian political party ‘Partiet Sentrum.’ @MediaCentrePWA.

    This nomination stands as a testament to Imran Khan’s unwavering struggle for peace and his 28 years of relentless efforts for democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. A well-deserved recognition for a great leader—Imran Khan.”


    A member of the PWA can be heard announcing, “We are pleased to announce on the behalf of the Partiet Sentrum that in alliance with somebody who have the right to nominate a candidate to the Nobel Peace have nominated Mr Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan to the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with human rights and democracy in Pakistan. I wish him all the luck. Thank You (sic).” 

    But the announcement alone is not enough to convince skeptics that Imran Khan may be in contention to win a Nobel. 

    The Nobel Prize website says, “As per the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, information about the nominations is not to be disclosed, publicly or privately, for a period of 50 years. The restriction not only concerns the nominees and nominators, but also investigations and opinions in the awarding of a prize.”

    The website further says that any person or organization can be nominated by anyone eligible to nominate. There is no vetting of nominations prior to the nomination deadline, hence the Norwegian Nobel Committee has no influence on the quality of the submissions. The task of the Committee is strictly limited to selecting the best candidate (or candidates) among the entire list of submissions.

    To simply be nominated is therefore not an official endorsement or honour extended by the Nobel Committee, and may not be used to imply affiliation with the Nobel Peace Prize or its related institutions.

    The Nobel Prize winners for this year will be announced between October 7 and 14. The prestigious awards recognize achievements in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or medical economics, literature, and efforts toward peace.

    To win a Nobel Prize, a nomination is required. The Norwegian Nobel Institute registered a total of 338 candidates for the 2025 peace prize, of which 244 are individuals and 94 are organizations. For comparison, the Nobel Institute received valid nominations for 286 candidates last year, distributed among 197 individuals and 89 organisations. The highest number ever, received in 2016, was 376 candidates.

    The Nobel Committee does not announce the names of nominees to the media or to the candidates themselves. In certain cases, names of candidates appear in the media. 

    These advanced surmises are either the product of sheer speculation or information released by the person or persons behind the nomination.

    All living persons and active organizations or institutions are eligible candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize. What is considered a valid nomination is defined by the Nobel Foundation’s statutes. In order for a nomination to be valid, it must be submitted no later than January 31.

    As a rule, the Committee reaches a decision only at its very last meeting before the announcement of the year’s laureate(s) at the beginning of October.

    Contrary to common belief, there is no public list of the current year’s nominees.


    How do the committees decide who to award the prizes to?

    Every committee is slightly different, but ultimately, they all work to fulfill the will of Alfred Nobel, which stated that the Nobel Prize should be awarded according to those who have “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”

    The awards were first handed out in 1901 and have seen winners, or laureates, ranging from Mother Teresa to Martin Luther King Jr. It’s not just individuals—organizations can win the awards too. And on many occasions, multiple people or organisations — or an individual and an organisation — have shared a Nobel Prize.

  • Mark Ruffalo, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem among celebrities slamming Oscars for ignoring attack on Palestinian director

    Mark Ruffalo, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem among celebrities slamming Oscars for ignoring attack on Palestinian director

    Around 600 Oscar voters, including Ava DuVernay, Olivia Colman, and Javier Bardem, have signed an open letter criticising the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for failing to strongly support filmmaker Hamdan Ballal following his recent arrest.

    The letter states: “It is indefensible for an organization to recognize a film with an award in the first week of March and then fail to defend its filmmakers just a few weeks later.”

    Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for co-directing No Other Land, was attacked by settlers and arrested by Israeli forces in his hometown of Susiya, West Bank. His co-director, Yuval Abraham, said Ballal suffered head and stomach injuries and was later released.

    In response, Academy leaders Bill Kramer and Janet Yang issued a statement that did not mention Ballal or No Other Land by name, simply stating that members may have “many unique viewpoints” on the issue. This vague response sparked backlash from Oscar voters.

    Several Hollywood stars and filmmakers, including Mark Ruffalo, Emma Thompson, Richard Gere, Tony Kushner, and Jonathan Glazer, signed the letter. They condemned the attack on Ballal and emphasised that documentary filmmakers risk their lives to tell the truth.

    “The targeting of Ballal is not just an attack on one filmmaker — it is an attack on all those who dare to bear witness and tell inconvenient truths,” the letter reads.

    The Academy has yet to respond to the open letter. However, supporters of Ballal say they will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring that filmmakers like him receive the protection and recognition they deserve.

  • New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 73 runs in first ODI

    New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 73 runs in first ODI

    New Zealand has secured a convincing 73-run victory over Pakistan in the first ODI of the three-match series, taking a 1-0 lead. 

    Batting first at McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand posted a strong total of 344/9 in their 50 overs. The hosts had an early setback, losing three wickets for just 50 runs. Will Young 1 (6), Nick Kelly 15 (12), and Henry Nicholls 11 (19) were dismissed cheaply.

    However, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman steadied the innings with an outstanding 199-run partnership. Chapman played a sensational knock of 132 (110), hitting 13 fours and six sixes, while Mitchell contributed 76 (85) before getting out.

    Debutant Muhammad Abbas provided a late boost to the innings, smashing a quickfire 52 (26) with three sixes and three fours.

    For Pakistan, Irfan Khan was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets. Haris Rauf and Akif Javed grabbed two wickets each, while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali picked up one each.

    Chasing 345, Pakistan started well, with Abdullah Shafique and Usman Khan building a solid opening stand. The duo took the score to 83 before the first wicket fell, with Usman Khan scoring 39 (41). Shortly after, Abdullah Shafique was dismissed for 36 (45) at 88/2 in 12.4 overs.

    Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam then formed a steady partnership, taking the total to 164 by the 28.4-over mark. However, Rizwan was dismissed for 30 (35) immediately after that. 

    Babar Azam continued to anchor the innings, reaching his 36th ODI half-century off 65 balls, including two sixes and two fours. He was eventually dismissed for 78 (92) at 249/4 in 38.4 overs.

    Agha Salman tried to hold one end but kept losing partners. Pakistan suffered a collapse in the 40th over, losing Tayyab Tahir 1 (3) and Irfan Khan 0 (2) at 253.

    Agha Salman fought back, scoring a 40-ball fifty with two sixes and four fours. However, the wickets kept tumbling. Naseem Shah 0 (4) fell at 267, followed by Haris Rauf 1 (5) at 269. Agha Salman was the last recognized batter to fall, scoring 58 (45) before being caught at 271/9 in 43.4 overs. Akif Javed 1 (3) was dismissed soon after, as Pakistan was bowled out for 271 in 44.1 overs.

    For New Zealand, Nathan Smith was the standout performer, taking four wickets to dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup.

    Pakistan introduced three debutants in this match: Akif Javed, Mohammad Ali, and Usman Khan. 

    The second match of the series will be played on April 2.

  • Shoaib Malik shares picture of 6yo son’s Roza Kushai

    Shoaib Malik shares picture of 6yo son’s Roza Kushai

    Former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik marked a special moment as his son, Izhaan, observed his first roza. Taking to Instagram, he shared a photo of the six-year-old after his Roza Khushai.

    In the picture, Izhaan is seen wearing a blue kurta shalwar adorned with a white phoolon ka haar (flower garland), making the occasion even more special.

    “First roza Mubarak to my little one. Baba is super proud of you champ. May Allah accept your roza and bless you always, Ezu,” Malik wrote.

    Izhaan, born in 2018, is the only child of Shoaib Malik and his ex-wife, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza. The couple, who married in 2010, finalised their divorce in January last year.

    Shoaib Malik later tied the knot with actor Sana Javed in January 2024, confirming their marriage through a social media post.

    Though Malik has not officially retired from international cricket, he has stated that he is focused on franchise leagues and is no longer interested in representing Pakistan.

  • Sahibzada Farhan selected for PSL 10 after fiery performance in National T20 Cup

    Sahibzada Farhan selected for PSL 10 after fiery performance in National T20 Cup

    In-form domestic cricketer Sahibzada Farhan has been selected for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 after a fiery performance in the National T20 Cup.

    The PSL franchise Islamabad United has included Sahibzada Farhan in their squad as the 20th player for PSL 10.

    Farhan’s PSL journey began in 2018 with Islamabad United, where he joined as an emerging player and played a crucial role in the team’s second PSL title victory.

    Islamabad United’s head coach, Mike Hesson, expressed confidence in Farhan’s abilities, stating that “an experienced and in-form player like him can become a part of the playing XI at any time.”

    He further emphasised that “Islamabad United has always provided opportunities to domestic talent, and Farhan’s inclusion aligns with this policy.”

    On the other hand, Sahibzada Farhan expressed his excitement about rejoining Islamabad United, stating that it is “an honour to reconnect with my first PSL franchise.”

    He acknowledged that Islamabad United had introduced him to the PSL and said he “will always be grateful to the team.”

    Farhan recently set a new national record in the National T20 Cup, scoring the most runs in a single edition of the tournament.

    The 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League is set to commence on 11 April, with matches being held in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi until 18 May.

  • ECB suspends registration of Pakistani cricketers’ agent over ‘corruption’

    ECB suspends registration of Pakistani cricketers’ agent over ‘corruption’

    The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has suspended the registration of a key agent representing Pakistani cricketers and officials due to four violations of its anti-corruption code. The agency in question represents over 80 percent of Pakistan’s centrally contracted players, along with several former cricketing stars.

    According to reports, Mughiz Ahmed Sheikh, the head of the International Cricketers Association (ICA), was registered as a player agent with the ECB. Following investigations by the cricket regulator and a hearing before an independent anti-corruption tribunal, he was found guilty of four breaches of the ECB’s anti-corruption code. The tribunal will decide on an appropriate sanction in due course. Meanwhile, the ECB has suspended Mughiz’s registration as an agent.

    Previously, Pakistan’s cricket scene was dominated by Saya Corporation, but ICA has now taken over as the primary agency representing both players and officials. Of the 25 centrally contracted Pakistani players, 20 are represented by ICA. 

    Some of the notable names under ICA’s representation include centrally contracted players Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Tayyab Tahir.

    Other players also include Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Usama Mir, and Abdul Samad.

    Former Players and Officials: Current head coach and selector Aaqib Javed, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and Misbah-ul-Haq.

    Interestingly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken measures to reduce the influence of Saya Corporation in the country’s cricketing affairs. However, ICA has now emerged as the dominant force, representing the majority of Pakistani players and officials.

    Reports said that Mughiz Ahmed Sheikh declined to comment on the matter. Further details regarding the case and the final decision from the anti-corruption tribunal are expected in the coming days.

  • Islamic Ideology Council rules against first wife’s right to annul marriage if husband remarries

    Islamic Ideology Council rules against first wife’s right to annul marriage if husband remarries

    The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has ruled that the Supreme Court 2024 decision, which grants the first wife the right to annul her marriage if her husband remarries without her permission, is not valid as per the norms of Shariah.

    The CII ruling said, “It is un-Islamic to grant the first wife the right to annul the marriage as a result of solemnising a second marriage [by her husband] without her permission.”

    The Council reached the decision at its 241st meeting, presided over by CII Chairman Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, on March 25-26.

    Last year, the country’s apex court ruled that the first wife has the right to terminate the marriage contract if her husband remarries without her permission.

    On October 23, 2024, a three-member bench, led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, after hearing the petition filed by Faryal Maqsood and others against Khurram Shehzad Durani and others, had issued an 18-page ruling regarding the polygamy case.

    Following the ruling, the CII had declared the Supreme Court’s decision to be contrary to Sharia, stating that the matter would be brought up in the council’s next meeting for discussion.

    As per the Dawn News, the Working Paper presented before the CII during the recent meeting read that the case in the Supreme Court involved a husband who had entered into a second marriage without obtaining permission from his previous wife, which was a violation of the 1961 Muslim Family Law. The first wife sought dissolution of the marriage (faskh-i-nikah) based on this violation.

    The Working Paper noted that the apex court had upheld the wife’s plea based on her husband’s violation of the 1961 Ordinance regarding polygamy. The SC stated that the violation itself was grounds for dissolving the marriage.

    However, the CII maintained that in ordinary circumstances, there are only two options for the dissolution of marriage for Muslims: one is khula, and the other is talaq (divorce).

    Meanwhile, the apex court in his last year verdict noted that the 1961 Law protects the spouse’s right to seek dissolution of marriage in case of such violations while ensuring that her other rights are also safeguarded.

    Recalling some earlier decisions of the council, the CII members claimed that as per the principles of Sharia, males do not need the permission of the existing wife or wives for subsequent marriages. It also noted that the 1961 Law was contrary to Sharia and the males can enter into four marriages at one time, without being answerable to previous wives or any person.

    The Council’s members, while ruling that the concerned parties cannot be forced to conduct medical tests for thalassemia or other infectious diseases before marriage while solemnising Nikah, the CII meeting otherwise supported medical tests.

    The ruling came in response to the query by various government departments to make such tests mandatory in Nikahnama as it was in some Muslim countries.

  • ‘Making someone uncomfortable isn’t funny’; Reham Khan calls out Ali Safina

    ‘Making someone uncomfortable isn’t funny’; Reham Khan calls out Ali Safina

    Filmmaker and journalist Reham Khan has strongly criticized actor and host Ali Safina for his question to actress and social media influencer Merub Ali regarding Hania Aamir.


    Taking to Instagram, Reham shared a video expressing her frustration over the viral moment, questioning whether Ali Safina’s approach was appropriate.

    The controversy began when Merub Ali appeared as a guest on a podcast. During the conversation, Ali Safina unexpectedly asked, “Does Asim Azhar sing for you?” Before she could respond, he jokingly hummed a lyric from a song, saying, “Ve Hania Ve Dil Jania”?

    Merub, visibly surprised, chose to ignore the remark and continued the conversation without reacting negatively.

    Now, Reham Khan has stepped in to criticize the situation. In her video message, she remarked, “A video clip is going viral where a young girl, who may be a model or actress, is put in an awkward spot. If a boy had been in her place, it might have been different. But making a girl feel uncomfortable by bringing up her partner’s ex-love or romantic past is not funny or laughable.”

    She further stated, “Making fun of someone or embarrassing them in this way is not humor, it’s painful.”

    Reham also condemned the societal mindset behind such questions. “If someone had a secret affair or marriage and you joke about it, that’s one thing. But when people have been open about their relationships, our younger generation still tries to embarrass them—even 10 years later. You are subconsciously teaching them hypocrisy, that they should hide things instead of being honest.”

    She expressed disappointment over the mindset, adding, “It’s sad that the British Parliament is acknowledging the achievements of one of the three people you are attacking, while another is just a young girl whom you are trying to humiliate.”


    Calling the act shameful, Reham said, “Asking such questions to a girl is a despicable act. The person who asked it is not too young to know better. The lesson you are giving to the younger generation is wrong.”

    She concluded by reminding people of the impact such behavior has had on others. “This has happened to many people before, including me. But please, don’t do this to the younger generation. Let them be true to themselves—don’t make them like you.”

  • ‘When the truth comes out, you will regret judging me’; Neha Kakkar speaks on Melbourne concert controversy

    ‘When the truth comes out, you will regret judging me’; Neha Kakkar speaks on Melbourne concert controversy

    Renowned Indian singer Neha Kakkar has finally broken her silence on the controversy surrounding her Melbourne concert, addressing accusations of arriving late.

    Taking to Instagram, she shared her side of the story, making it clear that she was unfairly judged. “When the truth comes out, you will regret judging me,” she wrote.

    Responding to criticism, Neha held the event organisers responsible for the mismanagement.

    “It was easily said that I arrived 3 hours late, but did anyone try to find out what happened to me? What happened to my band?” she questioned.

    She revealed that she initially stayed quiet to avoid blaming anyone publicly. “When I was speaking on stage, I didn’t tell anyone what had happened because I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Who am I to punish anyone? But now it’s my turn, so I won’t stay silent.”

    She further disclosed shocking details about the situation. “Do you know that I wasn’t taking any money for the performance at the Melbourne concert? But the organizer took my money and others’ money and ran away. My band wasn’t given food, hotel, or even water. My husband and his team provided them with food. Despite this, we performed just for the fans.”

    Neha also explained how the last-minute chaos disrupted the concert.

    “Due to non-payment on time, the sound checkers stopped the sound at the exact moment. Until the last moment, we didn’t know whether the concert was even happening. The organizers were not picking up my manager’s calls because they had already fled with everyone’s money.”

  • FACT CHECK: Trump offers to relocate Pakistani Christians to US?

    FACT CHECK: Trump offers to relocate Pakistani Christians to US?

    A short video that has gone viral on social media, gaining over a million views, falsely claims that US President Donald Trump criticised Pakistan for its treatment of Christians and threatened to relocate Christian families to the US. Fact-checkers reveal the video was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    The Claim

    On 22 March, an Instagram user posted a 24-second clip allegedly showing Trump saying: “I know that Christians in Pakistan are living very difficult lives. False blasphemy accusations are made against them. Christian girls are forcibly converted to Islam and are called derogatory names like easy and chura. If the Pakistani government does not put an end to these injustices, I will bring all Pakistani Christians to America.”

    The video also falsely claims that Trump’s speech was broadcast on BBC News. The Instagram post has received over 1.2 million views and more than 33,000 shares. Similar posts have circulated on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, with many users believing the statement to be genuine.


    The Truth

    The video is a deepfake—an AI-generated fake. There is no official statement, press release, or credible news source confirming that Trump made any such remarks about Pakistan.

    A reverse image search on Yandex revealed that the footage has been online since 10 October 2024. The original video featured Trump addressing those affected by Hurricane Milton in Florida. It has since been manipulated to falsely depict him speaking about Pakistan.

    The viral clip is a deepfake. There is no evidence that Trump made any comments regarding Pakistani Christians. The video is AI-generated and falsely attributes statements to the former US President.